WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 27: U.S. President Barack Obama speaks as young men who participate in the 'Becoming A Man' program in Chicago watch him during an event in the East Room of the White House February 27, 2014 in Washington, DC. Obama signed an executive memorandum following remarks on the "My Brother's Keeper"initiative.

When President Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" initiative was first announced in February, it emphasized its goal to improve opportunities for young men of color.

In the months that followed, the program's task force has met with public and private organizations that work with these young men to gage recommendations, and last month put out a call for mentors in communities across the country.

Yet as it's made incremental progress, the initiative has also come under fire. Last week, senior Obama aide Valerie Jarrett responded to criticism that the program excludes young women of color.

Now two economists are saying "My Brother's Keeper" focuses too much on the behaviors of young men and is essentially blaming the victims, rather than addressing the real structural causes of racial inequality.

“It seems like all of the ideas that are aimed addressing racial inequality aren’t aimed at addressing structural things like discrimination but rather attitudes, norms, and behaviors amongst blacks themselves or other subaltern populations themselves,” says Dr. Darrick Hamilton.

Dr. Hamilton is an associate professor at Milano-The New School of International Affairs and a research fellow at the Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis. And, Dr. William Darity is a professor of public policy studies, African American studies and economics at Duke University.